Preamble

The Pre-match Preamble – Gameweek 31

There’s nothing like the exhilaration of a double Gameweek to wake us from the slumber of an international break.

Sadly, Gameweek 31 looks far from exhilarating.

For the second time in the matter of weeks, we’re destined to root through Chris Ramsey’s QPR squad like grappling grannies at a jumble sale, desperately trying to find something of value other than the chipped china teapot that is Charlie Austin.

Seeking cheap thrills, we’re even eyeing up Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke and Gabby Agbonlahor like tickets in the tom-bola. If we’re lucky, our numbers might come up and we’ll get to claim some lavender bath salts. Such is the scale of the double Gameweek prize that awaits us.

We all know that the potential is limited, particularly with a blank looming but we’re internationally broken: craving Fantasy Football excitement from any possible source, however unlikely.

We don’t want to return to our squads and save our transfers. We don’t want to bring in Kyle Naughton. We’re looking for something that can relight the fire and, if we’re not careful, we can make careless errors trying to find it.

I’m fighting the urge and pondering the most subdued and ineffectual of all transfers – swapping my goalkeeper, albeit for Brad Guzan, a double Gameweek asset.

I’d love to gamble on Benteke and slap the armband on his bicep, but I know all too well that this compulsion is fuelled by a fortnight of inactivity. I know that international football can be just as damaging to my Fantasy thinking as it is the weary legs of my players.

On that note, an article this week revealed that Arsene Wenger’s Gunners haven’t won a single match following internationals this season. Interestingly, the same article highlighted that QPR have suffered most from such breaks. They’ve been consigned to three straight defeats, scoring just two goals in the process.

Suddenly I’m reconsidering that china teapot.

Mark Mark created the beast. He's now looking to tame it.

1,305 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    One DGW player here and it's Austin (c)

    Not really feeling Benteke

    1. Moin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      0 DGW player here...not really feeling either

    2. money face bandwagon
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      U will curse urself soon why u have austin instead of benteke

  2. andres
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone went with tekke (c)?

    1. Moin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      I think its a good decision..If I had him..would've went with him!

      1. andres
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        Would you do giroud to tekke for free?

    2. 32chickens
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      yup-here

  3. PlayON
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Killian here from PlayON,

    A quick note to highlight that we have a number of different team picking deadlines, free entry games and guaranteed pots on offer this week at PlayON so you can take full advantage of seeing the teamsheets.

    You can enter up to 3x different teams in any of the below games at http://www.playon.co

    Weekly: Gameweek 31
    Matches: 10
    Team Picking Deadline: Sat 12.45
    Guaranteed Pot: £1,000
    Free Entry Games: £200

    Match: Sat 4th 12.45
    Matches: 1
    Team Picking Deadline: Sat 12.45
    Guaranteed Pot: £100
    Free Entry Game: £50

    Daily: Sat 4th 15.00 & 17.30
    Matches: 6
    Team Picking Deadline: Sat 15.00
    Guaranteed Pot: £250
    Free Entry Game: £50

    Daily: Sun 5th Apr
    Matches: 2
    Team Picking Deadline: Sun 13.30
    Guaranteed Pot: £250
    Free Entry Game: £50

    Match: Mon 6th Apr
    Matches: 1
    Team Picking Deadline: Mon 20.00
    Guaranteed Pot: £250
    Free Entry Game: £50

    Match: Tues 7th Apr
    Matches: 1
    Team Picking Deadline: Tues 19.45
    Guaranteed Pot: £250
    Free Entry Game: £50

    If you have any questions about PlayON just add them as replies below and I'll answer them all.

    1. Optimus.
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Shameful attempt at a sticky Killian 😉

  4. ANDYC311
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    who to play, sanchez or cazorla?

    1. Smakies
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      caz

    2. Caesar, Hot Mustache
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      caz

    3. Malcolm Tucker for England …
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      The big question.
      caz for pens and set piece assists right now but easily swayed

    4. Gregor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Both?

    5. SuperDunny - Used to be goo…
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Sanchez

    6. Reedy
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Caz

  5. Caesar, Hot Mustache
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Good to Go?
    Pants
    Ivanovic Jones Fonte
    Hazard Mane Coutinho Silva
    Austin (c) Kane Kun
    A. Leave as it is
    B. Start Rose ahead of Fonte

  6. Smakies
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    downing or eriksen to fellaini ?

    1. Gregor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Downing, obv.

      1. sui
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        I wouldn't do it now. City - Chelsea next

  7. CHANCING PUNT
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Good to go?

    Myhill (Gilks)
    Koscielny - Terry - Naughton (PvA - Dawson)
    Eriksen - Mane - Cazorla - Haz (Boyd)
    Aguero(c) - Kane - Giroud

  8. The Red Devil
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    i think mata is a good punt for this week, easy fixture, always does well against villa! villa under sherwood would attack, fancy rooney & mata to score.
    & after scoring a brace & being MOM, LVG would be crazy to drop him. & anyway, if di maria had to start, i think young would be benched. against liverpool, di maria came on for young, surely a sign of who would be benched out of young or mata, once di maria starts.

  9. Venom Snake
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Need to pick my captain and I'm stuck.

    A. Kane
    B. Aguero
    C. Hazard
    D. Austin

    1. Moin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      B

    2. Smakies
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      a

    3. Gregor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Charles.

    4. Venom Snake
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Well this is helping..

  10. Sid07
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Which two to have this gw
    1) sanchz
    2) eriksn
    3) silva

    1. Chinu
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      2 and 3 imo

  11. Beaker
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    I don't know if it is by design or not, but on the login page if you click the scout logo it takes you to Wordpress not FFS home page

  12. SuperDunny - Used to be goo…
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Good to go? (BANK = £0.0m, 1 FT):

    Krul
    Terry Naughton PVA
    Sanchez Eriksen Hazard Silva
    Aguero Austin(c) Kane

    subs - Foster, Puncheon, Clyne, Dawson

    PVA starting over Clyne?
    Austin on handband duty?
    Save my FT?

    1. Matsy123
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      My exact team except i have coutinho, pva, myhill and aguero (c)

  13. DIegoCosta19
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    anyone getting rooney?

    1. SuperDunny - Used to be goo…
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Would LOVE to have Rooney!

    2. Dr Dream
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      A few have. Good pick this week, really good.

  14. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Need a few more views please. 🙂

    A. Benteke(c)

    or

    B. Aguero+Giroud+4 points

    1. Smakies
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      B

    2. Venom Snake
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      B

    3. Solenya
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      B skipper

  15. Jebiga
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Quick pool.

    Who have better chances to keep clean sheet today:

    1. PVA

    or

    2.Baird

    1. Chris_White
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      2 if he starts

      1. Jebiga
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        Why wouldnt ? Dawson is suspended until 11 Apr

        1. Matsy123
          • 9 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          Played in midfield against man city so dawson wont afect him

  16. Big Bad Barry
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone else relieved when the deadline passes? It does my head in!

    1. Gregor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Yep.

    2. Jax
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      oh god yes.

    3. whitters_2014
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      yeah I have no ft and want to bring in mata and sig haha. I will be relieved when it hits 11:30 lol especially as I can then study for exams hah

  17. 5678
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    This article nails it on boredom transfers.

    In meta news... Anyone know if FFS are designing a mobile site? The Google algorithm is favouring mobile friendly designs pretty soon. Not sure how much traffic this place gets from Google organic but I wouldn't want it to suffer.

    1. Malcolm Tucker for England …
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      You who and the what now?

      1. 5678
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        The order of the search results on Google will start to favour mobile friendly sites. I think we could do with one here.

        1. Mark
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 17 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          Got it covered. Beta testing soon.

          1. 5678
            • 13 Years
            9 years, 2 months ago

            Top man.

        2. Malcolm Tucker for England …
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          Ah. Thanks.
          I'm computer illiterate. (Stop the "no need for computer" comments before they start please)

  18. Ole Gunnar Kush
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Will Aguero play full 90mins or is he tired from international duty??

    1. Jax
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      doubt he's tired.

  19. Tsssst
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    does Bellerin start anymore?

    1. Gregor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Probably, for now.

  20. whitters_2014
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    guys ive made my ft defoe - benteke

    can you please answer who I should drop from this front 8 and who I should captain? I am chasing a 46 point lead.

    cout silva* mane sanchez phillips
    benteke kane* costa
    * = rival has.

    any help would be great, thank you.

    1. Gregor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Mane, tough away fixture.

      1. whitters_2014
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        would you swap him for anyone for a -4? thanks pal.

        1. Gregor
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          Na, keep him for next week, go with what you've got.

          1. whitters_2014
            • 9 Years
            9 years, 2 months ago

            okay man thanks that's my thinking. much appreciated

    2. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Mane or cout. I would favour cout

      1. whitters_2014
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        cheers pal!!

        does playing kos tip it to cout for the bench?

  21. OptimusBlack
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    if u have Sanchez , Silva , Hazard , Mane and want sell Sanchez Who to get ?

    Sanchez >

    1. Malcolm Tucker for England …
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Matt Phillips...
      then fellaini next week

      1. Jax
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        fellaini home to man city?

        1. Malcolm Tucker for England …
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          Yup. City can't defend long balls, United lump it to screech...
          done.

          1. Jax
            • 14 Years
            9 years, 2 months ago

            good punt if so

    2. Ole Gunnar Kush
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Eriksen

    3. Gregor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Keep.

  22. SamShi
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Guzan
    Ivan Clyne Naughton
    Mane Hazard Ozil Downing
    Aguero Austin (C) Kane

    Krul, Cazorla PVA, Bellerin

    Do I play Ozil or Cazorla or both at expense of Downing?
    Any other suggestions? No FT

    1. FootballFanatic365
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      downing over santi (he's on pens)

      1. SamShi
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        You mean santi over downing?

  23. Moin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Without Skrtle Liverpool in away fixtures has achieved a 51.6% Win Rate

    1. Kurtinho
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      That's actually decent.

      1. Moin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        yeah

      2. Malcolm Tucker for England …
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        Decent? Bloody great!

    2. Malcolm Tucker for England …
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      What's their defensive record like?

      1. Moin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        don't know..this stat came on TV so shared...

        1. Jax
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          Arsenal won't win today imo

    3. In Like Flynn.
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Against who?

  24. Kurtinho
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Any last-minute changes you'd make to this side?

    Panti
    Terry - Vert - PvA
    Sanchez - Haz - Eriksen - Mane
    Aguero (c) - Austin (vc) - Kane

    Krul; Mahrez, Alder, Dawson
    3.7ITB + 1FT

    Cheers! And good luck 😀

    1. Concrete
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Looks good
      Unsure on double Sunderland but could work

      1. Kurtinho
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah I'm playing the fixtures really. Plus PvA has that extra attacking threat.

    2. 32chickens
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      play toby over pva

    3. Moin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Looks good..but maybe Alder over Vert...Tottenham have conceded 9 goals in their Last 4 Games

  25. boc610
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    play eriksen or sanchez?

    1. Jebiga
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Both ?

      1. boc610
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        i have sinclair though

  26. The EJJ
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Mane to Sigurddson worth a transfer? Can't find a way to spend one of my 2 ft!

    1. 32chickens
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      yup

    2. Reedy
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Not for me. Saints have more to play for than Swans, and we don't even know that Siggy is on pens.

  27. jfxm
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    I have 10.7 to get a midfielder who would you get?

    1. Jebiga
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Silva

    2. 32chickens
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      fellaini for a 1gw and bank

    3. Reedy
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Who've you got?

      1. jfxm
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        Eriksen Sanchez Fabregas Mane Ki (would transfer Ki)

        Or I could transfer Mane for Hazard.

  28. Evs
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Long time no see peeps 🙂

    Well, I've left the old team slide, under the word 'casual' in the FFS dictionary (since xmas) I think you'll see a picture of yours truly 😆

    Hey, ho... austin (c) today

    #freethecasuals

    1. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      No place on this website for your kind. 😉

      Welcome back old mucker.

      1. Evs
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        How Do you old Ape !

        Given then slide, I'm pondering to put the retirement on hold for a season.

        Need to retire on a high 😉
        (Like Sir Alex 😆 )

        1. Ginkapo FPL
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 2 months ago

          Getting by, working 6 long days a week, but only a few more months of that to go 😀

          top 50k, which for an ape such as myself is fantastic.

    2. Optimus.
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      #Ireland 6 Nations WINNERS 😎

      😉 🙂

      1. Evs
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        Congrats. 🙂

        Ireland also 'losers' to Wales. 😛

    3. Reedy
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Hey Evs, good luck. Looks a decent pick

      1. Evs
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 2 months ago

        ... And you bud.

  29. mouldy_uk
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Play Eriksen or Ozil?

    1. Gregor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      😯

    2. 32chickens
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      erik again

  30. MndGms
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 2 months ago

    Whom to play: Schlupp PVA or Moreno

    1. Gregor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 2 months ago

      Schlupp.